Tree City USA - Awards Program
Tree City USA is a program conducted by the National Arbor Day Foundation in conjunction
with the National Association of State Foresters. To qualify as a Tree City in a given year, a
jurisdiction must have a tree board or department responsible for tree care (and a tree ordinance
establishing or designating such); have an urban forestry program supported by the spending of at
least $2 per capita and have a proclamation recognizing and celebrating Arbor Day.

There are currently 42 Tree Cities in Maryland, with participating jurisdictions spending an average
of $3.90 per capita.

Purpose: This awards program, offered by the National Arbor Day Foundation, is designed
to recognize communities that effectively manage their public tree resources, and to encourage
the implementation of community tree management based on four TREE CITY USA standards.

Scope: This national award is offered to political subdivisions annually.

Description: For the basic award and recertification, applicants must have a
Tree Board or Department, have a community tree ordinance, have an annual Community
Forestry program budget of at least $2 per capita, and hold an Arbor Day event with formal
proclamation. Growth awards are given to applicants earning at least 10 points per the
programs eligible activities in categories. Eligible activities include educational and public relations,
partnerships, planning and management, and tree planting and maintenance. Annual recertification
is required to obtain a growth award. Applications must be submitted to Maryland DNR Forest
Service by December 31 for review. Upon approval, they are forwarded to the National Arbor Day
Foundation for final processing and awards distribution.

The Tree Line USA program is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with
the National Association of State Foresters and recognizes public and private utilities across the nation
that demonstrate practices that protect and enhance America's urban forests.

Annual Accomplishments/Year-to-Date Performance: In Maryland, 39
recertifications 3 new applications
and 8 Growth Awards were given for 2002. This same year 2,883 Tree City USAs were recognized nationally.